Hanger strap for vacuum cleaner hose



Nov. 30, 1965 JEPSON ETAL HANGER STRAP FOR VACUUM CLEANER HOSE Original Filed June 30. 1960 United States Patent 3,220,041 HANGER STRAP FOR VACUUM CLEANER HOSE Ivar Jepson, Sister Bay, Wis., and Julius P. Wied, Oak Park, Ill., assignors to Sunbeam Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application June, 30, 1960, Ser. No. 39,865, now Patent No. 3,170,184, dated Feb. 23, 1965. Divided and this application Nov. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 409,531 1 Claim. (Cl. 15323) The present invention relates to suction or vacuum cleaners for removing dirt. from floors, carpets, furniture and the like by virtue of the suction or vacuum produced by a motor driven fan. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a novel improved hanger strap for a vacuum cleaner hose or the like. The present application is a division of copending Jepson et a1. application Serial No. 39,865, filed June 30, 1960, now Patent No. 3,170,184.

So-called suction or vacuum cleaners, particularly useful for use in the home have comprised two general types. One of these types commonly referred to as the upright cleaner comprises a housing having mounted therein a motor driven fan and also a rotatable brush driven by the motor. The housing terminates in a suction nozzle. Such a cleaner further includes a bag for receiving the dirt removed during the vacuum cleaning operation. The other type of cleaner commonly referred to as a tank or cannister type cleaner gets its name from its construction. It commonly comprises a tank or similarly shaped unit containing a motor driven fan for producing a suction, and connected to this unit through a flexible hose are the various cleaning attachments. A detailed description of one tank or cannister type vacuum cleaner can be found in the above-mentioned Jepson et al. patent.

The hose described in the above-mentioned Jepson et al. patent interconnects the tank unit and one of various cleaning attachments and comprises a flexible length of tubing formed of nylon reinforced vinyl plastic or other material. Each end of the tubing customarily carries a connector or coupling whereby the hose may be detached from the tank unit and cleaning attachments when the vacuum cleaner is not in use. It will be apparent that safe storage of the hose on a wall or elsewhere out from underfoot will reduce wear of the hose and prolong its useful life. In the past, however, eflicient storage of the hose has been diflicult to achieve because of its bulky, flexible and unwieldy construction. It would be desirable to overcome the above disadvantages through the provision of an improved strap hanger for a vacuum cleaner hose.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hanger strap for attachment to a vacuum cleaner hose or other flexible tubing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved hose supporting means which is simple and inexpensive and which greatly increases the life of the hose.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a flexible hose having associated therewith a novel means for facilitating the storage of the hose.

Still another object of the present invention resides in an improved hanger strap adapted for ready connection to a flexible tubular member.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the present invention,

3,220,041 Patented Nov. 30, 1965 ice reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of the hose assembly of the aforesaid Jepson et a1. patent employing the hanger strap of the present invention with certain portions of the flexible hose cut away;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a developed view of the hose hanger strap of FIG. 2 when disassembled from the, hose.

In the description which follows and in the drawing, the identical reference numerals employed in the aforesaid Jepson et a1. parent patent have been used for the corresponding parts. Moreover, the description of such parent patent incorporated by reference into this divisional application provides a full description of an operative device.

Briefly, the present invention is concerned with a hanger strap for a flexible hose comprising a straplike portion terminating at one end in a loop. An opening is provided in the strap at its other end so that when the strap surrounds a flexible hose or the like the loop may be inserted through this opening. Interlocking means are provided on the strap and serve to clamp the hanger firmly in place whereby the hose may be safely supported by the loop of the hanger strap.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated a flexible suction hose 36 (FIG. 1) connected at one end to suitable tube coupling 35. Specific coupling 35 illustrated is designed for connection to the vacuum cleaner described in detail in the above-mentioned Jepson et a1. patent. The hose 36 is preferably formed from a nylon reinforced vinyl plastic, thus providing a light but long wearing construction. Preferably, the hose 36 at the end thereof remote from the tube coupling 35 includes a swivel 37 and a curved tube 38 adapted to be connected with the end of one or more wand sections, as fully described in the above-mentioned Jepson et a1. patent. The curved tube 38 is provided with an adjustable suction control member 40, as described in greater detail in the above-mentioned Jepson et al. patent and as claimed in a copending application, Serial No. 409,532, filed contemporaneously herewith and comprising another division of the above-mentioned Jepson et al. parent patent.

In accordance with the present invention and in order to simplify the hose storage problem, there is provided a hose hanger generally designated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 by the reference numeral 238. This hose hanger is there illustrated as formed of a molded plastic material including a straplike portion 238a terminating at one end with a loop 238k and at the other end with an opening 239 into which the loop 238k may be inserted after the strap 238a has been clamped around the hose 36. Interlocking portions designated as enlargement or abutment 2380 and shoulder 238d (FIG. 2) are preferably provided on the strap and integrally formed therewith so that once it is looped around the hose it remains locked thereon in a predetermined position therealong, and the operator can then take the loop 238b and hook it on any suitable hanger or nail thus providing a very desirable support for the hose. Due to the resilience of the molded flexible plastic hanger and flexible hose, the hanger Will be clamped to the hose in a fixed position. Moreover, the hanger can be located at any desired position along the hose.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and it is therefore contemplated in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A hanger strap adapted to be mounted on a flexible hose, said strap comprising an elongated straplike flexible portion, a loop formed at one end of said portion, means defining an opening at the other end of said strap through which said one end of said strap is insertable when said strap is mounted on the flexible hose, first interlocking means on said said one end of said strap adjacent said loop, and second interlocking means at said other end of said strap effective when said loop is placed in a :position extending radially of the flexible hose to engage said first interlocking means in interengaging relationships for clamping said strap on the flexible hose and for holding said loop in said radially extending position, said first interlocking means comprising an undercut portion defining a shoulder and said second interlocking means comprising an enlargement receivable in said undercut portion and engageable with said shoulder.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,083,087 12/1913 Grifiiths 15-314 2,759,390 8/1956 Edwards 24874 2,769,998 11/ 1956 Hunter 15-323 X 2,929,596 3/ 1960 Ewing 248-74 2,936,980 5/1960 Rapata 24874 2,970,729 2/1961 Allen 224-55 3,018,800 1/1962 Hanssens 138--125 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,144,133 4/1957 France.

ROBERT W. MICHELL, Primary Examiner. 

